Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to ensure that post-primary schools offer a wide range of creative subjects for pupils at GCSE. Minister of Education: There is a wide range of qualifications, including in creative subjects, approved for teaching in schools in Northern … Continue reading AQW 52128/22-27 – Creative subjects for pupils at GCSE
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to improve primary education provision in rural areas. Minister of Education: I am committed to maintaining access to high-quality education for children living in rural communities. While declining pupil numbers present challenges for some schools, my Department … Continue reading AQW 51838/22-27 – Primary education provision in rural areas
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education whether his Department plans to issue guidance to (i) schools; (ii) early years providers; and (iii) other settings attended by children, on the use of camera-enabled smart glasses and other discreet wearable recording devices on their premises. Minister of Education: The Department’s recently published … Continue reading AQW 51716/22-27 – Guidance to schools on camera-enabled smart glasses
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether any assessment has made of the (a) adequacy; and (b) affordability, of childcare provision during school holidays; and (ii) any steps his Department is taking to ensure that childcare costs do not prevent parents, particularly women, from remaining in employment. … Continue reading AQW 50821/22-27 – Affordability of childcare provision during school holidays
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to improve education on the dangers and impact of sexism and misogyny. Minister of Education: Promoting respectful relationships and addressing harmful attitudes remains an important priority across the education system and supports the Executive’s wider work to … Continue reading AQW 50965/22-27 – Education on impact of sexism and misogyny
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education whether any assessment has been made of the effectiveness of childcare support for parents seeking to enter or return to employment. Minister of Education: The Northern Ireland Childcare Survey, commissioned by my Department and conducted by NISRA in 2024, found that 58% of households … Continue reading AQW 50819/22-27 – Childcare support
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps he is taking to tackle (i) online conspiracy belief; (ii) misinformation; and (iii) disinformation, in the classroom. Minister of Education: As part of my department's curriculum reform programme, proposals for a new Personal, Social, Civic and Careers (PSCC) framework includes … Continue reading AQW 50966/22-27 – Helping pupils identify misinformation and misleading content
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education whether any recent assessment has been made of the potential impact on pupils’ wellbeing of introducing an entitlement to an outdoor residential experience for every child during their time at school. Minister of Education: My Department has not commissioned any research or undertaken any … Continue reading AQW 50963/22-27 – Benefits of an outdoor residential experience for every child at school
